These are the finely ground rock particles, chemicals, and water discarded after the milling and flotation processes have stripped the economic metals from the mined ore. Because they often contain heavy metals, residual processing chemicals, and sulfides that can generate acid, they must be permanently stored in engineered impoundments. Managing this waste safely is one of the largest environmental and geotechnical challenges at any surface operation.
The mill is pumping about ten thousand tons of slurry to the tailings dam every shift.
Also heard as
- tails
- schlich
- Attle
- deads
- mullock
Related terms
Flotation
A mineral separation method that uses chemical reagents and air bubbles to lift specific target minerals to the surface of a liquid bath.
Concentrator
A facility or machine that separates valuable minerals from waste rock.
Beneficiate
To process raw mined ore to improve its grade by removing waste material.